We have a birthday to celebrate… ours! A year ago this month, the Restorative Yoga Club was born. I'm so proud of the good work we’re doing together. It is as much thanks to you as it is thanks to me.

My dream has always been to make this more of a glee club than a solo act. And today that dream comes true. I couldn't be more excited to introduce you to our first guest teacher, my friend, Liz Westendorf.

Liz is a soul and embodiment coach, movement and energy healer, a teacher of yoga and meditation, and a story curator. From Monday, July 31, to Sunday, August 6, she’ll be guiding us through short, daily exercises that will tone our gratitude muscles. Tune in each day for a new lesson over on the Restorative Yoga Club’s Instagram or Facebook channel.

Jonathan: Hello, Liz! Can you tell everyone a little about yourself and the 7 Days of Embodying Gratitude Practice you’ll be sharing with us?

Liz: Well, it may come as no surprise that I’d like to begin with a thank you! I am so thankful to you for the opportunity to connect with all of my fellow RYC members and lead the group in an embodied gratitude practice. For those who don’t know, I had the pleasure of taking my yoga teacher training with Jonathan and seeing him birth and grow RYC.

J: [blushing]

L: And now I have the pleasure of being in your inbox! My passion is empowering others to reconnect with their body and their soul to create healthy, sustainable change in the body, mind and spirit so that they can keep the free world rockin’.

J: You are amazing. Remind us… why is gratitude so important?

L: Gratitude has long been a prescription to cure what ails you. What we focus on, we attract more of. It’s no secret. Therefore, shifting our energy into one of thankfulness is a powerful transmission. However, many standard practices of speaking or writing about gratitude don’t easily invite our full presence and attention. They kind of let us opt out of the full experience.

J: I never thought of it like that, but it’s true, whether we “opt out” consciously or subconsciously.

L: This is where spatial, linguistic and kinesthetic approaches can help. Such practices can support us in bridging the gap between the mind and body so that we fully embody the experience of gratitude, enhancing its effectiveness and transformative power to rewire our bodies and beliefs. We’ll approach this gratitude practice similar to how we might approach a yoga or meditation practice. We’ll commit to slowing down and attending to what gratitude looks and feels like for you personally, noticing the mental and bodily shifts that occur from this loving, appreciative connection.

L: The practice will call upon all of your senses and your full presence to help refine your attunement to gratitude. Then you can have gratitude readily available in your tool belt to help you navigate the great adventure of life. It may come in handy if you’re stuck in a traffic jam, have bills to pay or qualify as a human being.

J: I can’t wait to begin! But I will commit to slowing down and embodying gratitude for the weekend ahead. Thank you, Liz!